John Terry - Reactions...Capello...Umbro Axe Terry

[Bushman]

John Terry trial date will disrupt QPR's build-up, says Mark Hughes

Jamie Jackson
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 2 February 2012 23.00 GMT


Anton Ferdinand's pre-season will be affected
Anton Ferdinand will be a key figure at John Terry's trial when the QPR player should be preparing for the new season.

The timing of John Terry's trial will disrupt pre-season for Anton Ferdinand and Queens Park Rangers, according to Mark Hughes.

The Chelsea captain, who denies allegations he made a racist comment to Ferdinand when the sides met in October, could face a five-day trial starting on 9 July. "Anton is obviously involved in the case and they have been given a date that is slap-bang in the middle of our pre-season from my point of view and Anton's point of view. That is going to impact on his preparation for a new season," the QPR manager said.

"I don't know how they have come up with the date, whether they have had discussions with the FA and [made sure] it doesn't impact on the Euros. They haven't discussed it with us. They have certainly not discussed the date with me. It seems to be set in stone and it's slap-bang in the middle of our pre-season operation when ideally I would want my player available.

"If John goes to the Euros it impacts on his holiday; it doesn't impact on his pre-season because he'll get a rest after the Euros. It's just in his down-time, it's not in Anton's down-time. My understanding is that we were not involved in the discussion about a date. I might be completely wrong but certainly I wasn't in that discussion if there was one.

"We'd like to have had a chance to put our point across to make them understand that there could be a little bit of an issue from our point of view."

It is understood that the Football Association was not consulted regarding the trial's date. The decision was taken by judge Howard Riddle at Westminster magistrates court on Wednesday, with a letter from Ron Gourlay, the Chelsea chief executive, part of the process.

Hughes is frustrated that the case cannot be heard earlier. "I think everybody believes it has been dragging on forever," he said. "From my point of view, and certainly Anton I would have thought, [we] would have preferred it to be done and dusted by now. I think everybody would."

Asked if he thought the date of the trial will also affect Fabio Capello's England side at the European Championship, Hughes said: "Well that's a decision for England. I'm sure discussions will be held in that regard on whether it will have a negative impact in terms of selection but it's not for me to comment."

QPR host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday having picked up four points from their past two league outings to take them to 16th in the Premier League and Hughes said: "The target is to stay up. I think it's important we take something from every game. We've beaten Wigan and got a good point at [Aston] Villa. If we can get maximum points at the weekend, it's seven from three and that's a decent return. That's what we need to do, keep picking up points."

Hughes, who is likely to pair his new signings Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cissé for the first time against Wolves, stated he was content with the draw at Villa despite squandering a two-goal lead. "There was disappointment in the dressing room because we were leading 2-0 but it's a good sign that you are disappointed about getting a point at Villa Park. Beforehand we would have been delighted with a point."

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/02/john-terry-qpr-mark-hughes?newsfeed=true

[cpr]

Well said Mr Hughes, that Jimmy Riddle judge must be a sgum fan!

[jjqpr]

I am still unsure why this scum case has gone on so long like this, when the suarez one seemed to be sorted very quickly...and I don't think involved police etc...what am I missing?

[cpr]

The FA have stripped Terry of the captaincy.

Not seen the reasons yet.

[cpr]

John Terry stripped of England captaincy by FA ahead of racism trial
• Chelsea defender informed of FA decision this morning
• Terry's criminal trial scheduled for week after Euro 2012

John Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy by the Football Association's chairman, David Bernstein. The defender was informed of the decision by Bernstein in a phone call on Friday morning. It is the second time that he has lost the captaincy for off-the-pitch reasons.


Reports suggest the decision was made by the FA's board at a meeting on Thursday night. Terry is not expected to responded to the news immediately.


The announcement on Wednesday that Terry's trial for racially abusing the Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League game played last October had been scheduled for 9 July, leaving the Chelsea centre-back free to represent and possibly captain his country at Euro 2012, which ends a week earlier.


But anti-racism campaigners were among those who insisted that a footballer should not lead his country while facing charges of such magnitude. "The seriousness of the allegations mean that he can't lead the nation," said Piara Powar, executive director of Football Against Racism in Europe. "The FA must do the right thing."


The England manager, Fabio Capello, is out of the country, and due to return to watch a Premier League game on Saturday. He had selected Terry for the matches against Spain and Sweden last November despite the allegations, after consulting senior figures at the FA including Bernstein. "We need to wait what will happen about the FA investigation and the police investigation, but I can tell you he is innocent until proven guilty," the Italian said at the time. "This is a really important thing for me and the FA."


Terry has consistently denied racially abusing Ferdinand. "I will fight tooth and nail to prove my innocence," he said when the criminal charge was announced in December. "I have campaigned against racism and believe there is no place for it in society."


It is the second time that Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy, the previous occasion coming in 2010 after intense speculation about the player's private life.

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/03/john-terry-stripped-england-captaincy-racism?newsfeed=true

[Zamoraaaah]

You'd think Chels*** lobbying to have the trial moved to after the Euros would have been a factor.

[Macmoish]

Wow! The Petition WORKED !

(Congratulations to the approaching 200 signers ;D )

OK..Ok: "Post hoc ergo propter hoc"

[Zamoraaaah]

[canadaranger]

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16866149

John Terry: FA strips England captaincy from Chelsea defender

John Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy, the Football Association has confirmed.

The 31-year-old Chelsea centre-back was informed of the decision by FA chairman David Bernstein in a phone call at 1000 GMT.



(Maybe someone at the FA watches video...)

[Macmoish]

Text of the FA Statement

The FA
FA Statement: John TerryFriday, 03 February, 2012

FA confirms decision regarding England captaincy.

Following the decision to adjourn the court case against John Terry to July, The Football Association confirm he will not captain the England team until the allegations against him are resolved.

The FA Board expected the trial to be concluded prior to the European Championship. Further to Wednesday’s confirmation that the trial will not take place until after the tournament, the Board has discussed the matter in detail and has collectively decided it is in the interests of all parties that John has the responsibilities of captaincy removed at this time.

This decision has been taken due to the higher profile nature of the England captaincy, on and off the pitch, and the additional demands and requirements expected of the captain leading into and during a tournament.

The FA Board can confirm that he has not been excluded from the squad and that Fabio Capello is free to select him for the Holland fixture on 29 February and the European Championship.

FA Chairman David Bernstein has spoken to both John Terry and Fabio Capello to explain the facts to them. Fabio Capello has not been involved in The FA Board discussions which reached this conclusion, but understands that The FA Board has authority to make this decision.

Fabio Capello will take the decision as to who will be made captain moving forward.

This decision in no way infers any suggestion of guilt in relation to the charge made against John Terry. The FA will be not be making any further comment on this matter.

www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsAndFeatures/2012/john-terry-statement-030212.aspx

[Macmoish]

But REMAINS CHelsea Captain

Talksport

Villas-Boas backs Terry and insists he will remain Chelsea captainVillas-Boas backs Terry and insists he will remain Chelsea captain
By talkSPORT
Friday, February 3, 2012
0 commentsAndre Villas-Boas has publicly backed John Terry despite the under-fire Chelsea captain losing the armband with England.
Terry, due in court after Euro 2012 charged with racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, has been stripped of the England captaincy for a second time.
The Chelsea defender strenuously denies the charge and the FA insist dropping him as captain does not infer any guilt on his part.
And Villas-Boas has backed his man - and insisted Terry will remain Chelsea captain.
The Chelsea manager said: "I don't agree with it [the FA decision]. John will continue to be our captain. You have to ask them [the FA] the foundations of their decision. I don't think it will affect John's performances, not at all."
Terry, who missed Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Swansea in midweek, has also been ruled out of Sunday's showdown with Manchester United.
He was set to go head-to-head with Ferdinand's older brother Rio but is still suffering from a knee problem.
"He is out of the Manchester United game. He will probably miss Everton as well," Villas-Boas added.


www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/1516/94/villas-boas-backs-terry-and-insists-he-will-remain-chelsea-captain

[sharky]

About bl**dy time. Now to get the trial brought forward!!

[superckat]

Feb 3, 2012 11:49:19 GMT Zamoraaaah said:

Very good

[Lonegunmen]

Should there even be a trial? This whole saga should have been dealt with by the FA.

[cpr]

Somebody complained to the police, this immediately took it out of the hands of the FA.

9 months to deal with it is simply pathetic.



On the plus side, a neighbour complained that I'd moved one of his plant pots, fortunately the judge put the case off until 2020 when all my character references had retired and thus no longer working.

[fraserinbc]

Feb 3, 2012 15:31:04 GMT cpr said:

Somebody complained to the police, this immediately took it out of the hands of the FA.

This cannot be stressed enough. There was a complaint to the police, which immediately made it a criminal matter. The delay has nothing to do with the FA (for a change) who will deal with it once the criminal case is over.

[eusebio13]

Feb 3, 2012 18:15:22 GMT fraserinbc said:

Feb 3, 2012 15:31:04 GMT cpr said:

Somebody complained to the police, this immediately took it out of the hands of the FA.

This cannot be stressed enough. There was a complaint to the police, which immediately made it a criminal matter. The delay has nothing to do with the FA (for a change) who will deal with it once the criminal case is over.

but it is their fault they didn't take this action at the time...they just hoped it would go away or that it would be resolved by the court before the Euros so they wouldn't have to make decision...now there decision lacks logic.

don't get me wrong, its the right decision just for the wrong reason and too late

[Macmoish]

DAILY MAIL/Matt LAwton

We don't want you! England team-mates turn on Terry as the FA ditch race case captain

John Terry was stripped of the England captaincy for the second time on Friday and a number of team-mates believe he should not be picked by Fabio Capello while allegations of racism persist.

The decision, taken by the 14 members of the FA board, was communicated first to Capello on Thursday night and then to Terry at 10am on Friday in a call from FA chairman David Bernstein. The news was broken by Mail Online.

Terry faces trial on July 9, having been accused of a racially aggravated public-order offence against Anton Ferdinand. Terry denies the charge, but the FA have decided it would be inappropriate to let the 31-year-old Chelsea defender lead England at this summer’s European Championship.

On a dramatic day…

It emerged England manager Capello was not consulted and does not agree with the decision.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand — brother of Anton and Terry’s predecessor as England captain — ruled himself out of contention to be the new skipper.
Capello began deliberating over Terry’s replacement, with his options limited. Gareth Barry and Scott Parker are among the leading contenders.

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas backed Terry and said he would remain Chelsea captain.

Losing the England armband has left the defender considering retirement from international football, and Sportsmail understands Terry was made aware a number of his black England team-mates had an issue with him — over his clash with Anton Ferdinand at Loftus Road on October 23 — during their last get-together.

On Friday, former Fulham striker Leroy Rosenior became the latest black football figure to speak out against Terry — joining Jason Roberts and Emmanuel Frimpong.

TV pundit Rosenior told the BBC: ‘They have made the right decision. I just found it incredible that John could think he could lead England into the European Championship. I don’t even think he should go to Euro 2012 — I don’t think it would be good for the team.’

Terry, stripped of the captaincy two years ago amid the controversy of his affair with Vanessa Perroncel and Sportsmail’s revelation that the Wembley box he was given at a discounted rate was being offered on the black market, is said to feel betrayed by the FA.

But he may also feel it is difficult to face hostility in the dressing room when he is no longer skipper. The decision to delay his trial until July 9 makes it additionally complicated for him.
\
The FA made the unprecedented move of cancelling the pre-match handshake at last Saturday’s FA Cup tie between QPR and Chelsea because Ferdinand and his team-mates were planning to snub Terry and it is believed Manchester United players, with Rio Ferdinand among them, were planning to do the same at Stamford Bridge on Sunday before Terry was withdrawn through injury.
The issue is a nightmare for Capello. He reinstated Terry as captain a year ago, ignoring warnings that the move could come back to bite him. Now he has lost his captain in chaotic circumstances for the second successive tournament, and is left with problems when it comes to appointing a replacement.

After the way Capello handled replacing Rio Ferdinand with Terry last year, it is no surprise that the United defender does not want the job.
He tweeted on Friday: 'I don’t want to be England captain after the last episode, just want to concentrate on playin for utd & if I make the squad then as ever I’ll be delighted.'

Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard is the right man if he is fit and in form. He captained England at the 2010 World Cup and handled his media responsibilities extremely well. But concerns over Gerrard’s fitness do not make him the automatic choice, even if Capello would prefer to go with one of the senior players.
Barry is a major candidate, with the likelihood Jack Wilshere will miss the tournament through injury making the Manchester City man’s place in the side more secure.

Beyond that, Capello may well consider Tottenham’s Parker; an experienced club captain and someone now among the first players on the England team sheet despite missing out on World Cup selection.

Not interested: Rio Ferdinand ruled himself out of the race to replace Terry
Frank Lampard could also be a contender if he can prove himself worthy of a place in England’s first XI.
Wayne Rooney would have been considered had he not been suspended for the first two games in Poland and Ukraine. Ashley Cole would be a reluctant skipper and Joe Hart, while a certainty to start every game, is likely to be dismissed on the grounds he is too young.
Capello, while accepting the FA’s right to strip Terry of the captaincy, is far from happy. The decision has been taken while he is in Italy and his stance on Terry has not changed. The manager made a recent visit to Chelsea’s training ground just to see Terry.

But Bernstein and the FA board have made the correct call. They have to consider the public image of the England team. It is believed they stopped short of suspending Terry from international football all together because it would set a dangerous precedent ahead of Terry’s case at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

How Sportsmail broke the stories
An FA statement read: ‘Following the decision to adjourn the court case against John Terry to July, the FA confirm he will not captain the England team until the allegations against him are resolved.
‘The FA board expected the trial to be concluded prior to the European Championship. Further to Wednesday’s confirmation that the trial will not take place until after the tournament, the board has collectively decided it is in the interests of all parties that John has the responsibilities of captaincy removed at this time.

‘This decision has been taken due to the higher profile nature of the captaincy, on and off the pitch, and the demands and requirements expected of the captain leading into and during a tournament.
‘The FA board can confirm that he has not been excluded from the squad and that Fabio Capello is free to select him for the Holland fixture on February 29 and the European Championship.
‘FA chairman David Bernstein has spoken to John Terry and Fabio Capello to explain the facts to them. Fabio Capello has not been involved in the FA board discussions which reached this conclusion, but understands that the FA board has authority to make this decision.
‘Fabio Capello will take the decision as to who will be made captain moving forward. This decision in no way infers any suggestion of guilt in relation to the charge made against John Terry. The FA will not be making any further comment on this matter.’

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2096257/John-Terry-loses-England-captaincy-team-mates-turn-him.html#ixzz1lMY81WEU

[finnmac]

"Terry was made aware a number of his black England team-mates had an issue with him "

IMO if this is true then I agree with Big BAD Leroy, Terry should not even be considered for the squad.

And why is Leroy only identifed as Ex Foolham?

[Macmoish]

Press Association

Chelsea: Court decided trial date

Saturday 4th February 2012 in

Chelsea have insisted it was the court's decision to put John Terry's racism trial back to July - a move which led to the Football Association stripping the defender of the England captaincy.

The club's chief executive Ron Gourlay had written to the district judge asking for the trial to be delayed until after the Chelsea players' domestic and international footballing commitments are over for the season.

That appeared to have backfired for Terry after the FA board announced that as a result of the trial date they have decided the 31-year-old will not be the England captain before or during Euro 2012.

At a press conference on Friday Chelsea boss Andres Villas-Boas was asked about their push for a July trial, and a club spokesman responded by saying: "We asked for consideration. We submitted a letter asking for consideration on a business case for Chelsea Football Club and also that it would make it easier for us to present our players if they were requested.

"It was the court's decision after that."

Terry's barrister, George Carter-Stephenson QC, entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. The 31-year-old is accused of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand during a Barclays Premier League match in October, which he has always denied. He will stand trial on July 9.

Carter-Stephenson also handed the district judge a letter from Chelsea chief executive Gourlay. Villas-Boas said Terry was "disappointed" but that he was not worried about the player's mental state.

The Chelsea manager said: "He is disappointed, but John is a person of good mental strength and great personal convictions. So he has to move on, he has to move on. He went past this period before when he was stripped before of the (England) captaincy.

"He came back to a level still of great individual performances.

"So, in that sense, on the sense of pure player-manager relationship and team, his performances haven't dropped a level."

www.andoveradvertiser.co.uk/uk_national_sport/9513037.Chelsea__Court_decided_trial_date/r/?ref=rss

[Macmoish]

GUARDIAN Daniel Taylor and David Hytner

John Terry could quit England over sacking and reports of 'mutiny'

• Chelsea star stripped of England captaincy for second time
• Senior players unhappy before autumn friendlies

The Football Association's decision to remove the England captaincy from John Terry has left him contemplating whether to quit

international football in protest and comes at a time when he is facing a potential mutiny within Fabio Capello's squad. Terry's demotion was confirmed in a 10am phone call on Friday after David Bernstein, the FA chairman, informed Capello he was being overruled because the FA could not allow the Chelsea player to continue in the role after his trial for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand was scheduled to begin on 9 July, eight days after the European Championship final.

Capello opposed the decision and is almost as angry as Terry, not least because it leaves the manager with a dilemma about who to choose as England's captain for the tournament. Rio Ferdinand immediately made it clear he did not want to be considered and, while Steven Gerrard is the obvious candidate, the Liverpool player's injury issues mean Capello will make backup plans, potentially including Gareth Barry and Scott Parker.

One key requirement will be to reunite what is increasingly looking like a fractured squad after it emerged Terry was cold-shouldered by a small but influential group of players when the squad were last together for the friendlies against Sweden and Spain.

Terry, who denies the charge and is determined to clear his name, became aware other players had a problem with him and the issue was never fully resolved before all returned to their clubs. Rio Ferdinand, Anton's older brother, was not involved but his own relationship with Terry is fragile, to say the least. These are two of the more influential players in the England dressing room and, for Capello, it is threatening to become a serious issue. Jason Roberts, the Reading striker and Kick It Out campaigner, has predicted the mood will be "toxic" and Capello will almost certainly have to address it when the players reconvene for the Wembley friendly against Holland on 29 February.

Before then, Capello will offer Terry private backing amid suggestions from the player's camp that he is aggrieved enough to consider withdrawing from contention. Terry believes the FA has reacted under pressure from the media. There is also a sense he was already considering ending his England career after Euro 2012.

Capello had wanted to keep Terry as captain in keeping with his previous statements of considering him innocent until proven guilty. He reiterated this to Terry this week and had visited him at Chelsea's training ground, again to reassure him of his position.

Capello must now reflect on a gamble that badly misfired given that it was his decision to depose Ferdinand and reinstate Terry for his second spell as captain, having initially demoted the Chelsea player because of the Wayne Bridge controversy. The manager's annoyance is exacerbated by the fact the decision was taken while he was out of the country. The FA released a statement confirming that Bernstein had "spoken to both John Terry and Fabio Capello to explain the facts. Fabio Capello has not been involved in the discussions … but understands that the FA board has authority to make this decision."

The decision was based on the fact "the FA board expected the trial to be concluded prior to the European Championship" and "the higher profile nature of the England captaincy, on and off the pitch, and additional demands and requirements expected of the captain". The FA added: "This in no way infers [sic] any suggestion of guilt in relation to the charge made against John Terry."

Terry was later offered Chelsea's backing. "It's the FA's decision," André Villas-Boas said. "I don't agree with it. John will continue to be our captain. It's the club's and the manager's decision to support the player up to the moment of the court.

"I have spoken to John. He was disappointed but John is a person of great mental strength and personal convictions. He has to move on. He's been through a period like this before when he was stripped of the captaincy and he came back to a level of great individual performances."

Capello's next captain would ideally be Gerrard but he also has to weigh up the fact the Liverpool player has started only eight games this season. Frank Lampard may not be in the team this summer and the same goes for Barry if Gerrard and Parker are available and Jack Wilshere is back from injury. Ashley Cole has also been mentioned but only briefly because the England management know he is not keen. Otherwise, Joe Hart is ruled out because he is deemed too young, at 24, while appointing Wayne Rooney would not make sense when he is banned for the first two matches of Euro 2012.

Terry has a knee injury and will miss Sunday's home game against Manchester United, sparing him the distinct possibility of being blanked by Rio Ferdinand, and potentially several other players, in the pre-match handshakes.

Ferdinand said on Twitter that he did not want to be England captain because of "the last episode". He also does not want the vice-captaincy and a spokesman for his management company, New Era, said: "Rio just wants to concentrate on playing football."

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/03/john-terry-quit-england-mutiny

[Macmoish]

Guardian/Daniel Taylor

Risk of John Terry captaincy at Euro 2012 was too great for FA
The Football Association made the correct decision because the alternative simply did not bear thinking about

In the end, the threat of embarrassment – real, searing embarrassment – meant more than hurting the feelings of one man. The risk was too great for the Football Association and that is why it has made the correct decision because the alternative, quite simply, was not worth thinking about.

It takes a big leap, perhaps, but just imagine if England, captained by John Terry, had got their act in gear ahead of the European Championship and actually won the damn thing. Terry's trial for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand is eight days after the final, and what then? If he is convicted, the FA would not be able to airbrush him from the pictures.

Another trophy presentation could not be arranged. The television footage could not be doctored purely so we could have something to remember that doesn't make us glow and cringe at the same time. Terry would already have recreated the nearest thing any Englishman has had to a 1966 moment. Yes, he may be found not guilty. But the FA could not take the chance.

This is not the only reason why it has removed Terry's captaincy, but it is enough in itself. At Manchester City last season they won their first trophy for 35 years but a lot of supporters now look at the photographs of the trophy presentation with a hollow form of joy. The problem, you see, is that it is Carlos Tevez holding it aloft and, as far as they are concerned at City, Graeme Souness called it just right when he talked of the Argentinian epitomising everything that was wrong about modern-day football. Yet Tevez was never convicted of calling an opposition player a "black c**t".

Terry hasn't been either. He denies the allegations, says he feels "disgusted" and, in which case, he was probably entitled to want to keep that little piece of elasticated cloth around his left biceps. But the FA had too much to lose. The final of Euro 2008 was watched on television by around 330 million people in 231 different countries. Each game had an average audience of 155 million. This year's event will be even bigger. The FA's responsibility is for the image of the English game, not the feelings of a man who should probably never have been given a second bite at the captaincy anyway.

By overruling Fabio Capello and affronting Terry, the FA is trying to spare us from Euro 2012 turning into an ordeal not of its own making. Every press conference in Poland and Ukraine would have seen it crop up.

Every training session would have been scrutinised for signs of cliques and divisions. As the captain, Terry would have been obliged to speak before every match. Even if the English press pack had eventually left him alone, the foreign journalists would not have. Every time a black player walked through the mixed zone someone would have stuck out a microphone. The questions can be couched in many different ways but they would all boil down to one thing: pro-Terry or anti-Terry?

Some may think it is wrong to be bothered by these things, that the media has done enough to disrupt England and the FA should rise above it. But this is the way of modern-day football. It is there, it is not going to change and, as England should know from experience, it can be a monster in major tournaments. The controversy would have fastened on like a tick on the side of a dog, getting worse all the time.

That is not to say shifting Terry a couple of places down the lineup entirely removes the problem. On the assumption that he resists any temptation to tell the FA to sling it, his trial is still going to provide a permanent backdrop to whatever else happens in Capello's final few weeks as manager. Terry can actually regard himself as fortunate in one respect in that football seems to operate by different rules from just about every other profession. Any other employee of a large company would already have been suspended on full pay for an allegation of this seriousness, pending the outcome of the case. It is standard procedure outside of the football bubble and, if it were applied here, we wouldn't have the sideshow of Rio Ferdinand now contemplating what it is going to be like sharing the same oxygen with the man accused of abusing his younger brother. Note the message on the Manchester United defender's Twitter account after the trial date was set: "I feel insulted … woke up with a bad taste in my mouth … its a god damn joke!"In truth, footballers are pretty good at rolling their sleeves up and getting on with the business of trying to outscore the other team. But it is far from ideal. One of the key revelations this week is that Terry detected before the last England game he had a problem with some of his international team-mates. They weren't completely blanking him but they were standoffish enough for it to be obvious. It was frosty and never fully resolved. Rio Ferdinand is a popular player within the England dressing room and you wonder what will have to be done to make things bearable behind the scenes.

How does Ashley Cole deal with it? Will Wayne Rooney be caught in the middle? What if Danny Welbeck, a young, black, Manchester United footballer who looks up to Ferdinand as one of his heroes, gets called up? Jason Roberts has predicted it would be "toxic" and, even if that is not quite the correct word, it is threatening to be awkward, tense and potentially volatile. Capello needs togetherness. If he does not think Ferdinand and Terry can work together, he has a difficult decision to make. One will have to be sacrificed.

Terry's sympathisers argue that the decision warps the boundaries of innocent until proven guilty, and this was a common worry among David Bernstein's colleagues when he started the process of canvassing their views. Except removing the captaincy is not prejudicial if it is simply an interim approach. It is not presuming guilt or innocence, merely accepting that the FA has a lot of things to consider and, all in all, it needs to suspend judgment. Yes, it is going to create a lot of headlines and opinion but it is not the FA's job to worry whether that affects the thinking of a district judge at Westminster magistrates court in five months' time.

Newspapers and broadcasters employ lawyers to look after that. The FA's duty should be purely about what is right and wrong in football terms.

What happens if any of England's black players are racially abused by the crowds in Poland or Ukraine? Let's face it, this scenario is more likely than England winning the competition. We know the story by now: the FA complains to Uefa, puts out a statement then gets very indignant, with good reason, that not enough is being done about it. The problem is, it is difficult to take the moral high ground when 9 July is circled into the FA's diary in black marker pen. Who, in ordinary circumstances, would be wheeled out after Capello to speak on behalf of the players and condemn it? That's right, the England captain.

Perhaps Terry regrets that letter from Chelsea's chief executive, Ron Gourlay, asking the judge to delay the trial until out of season.

Defendants are not usually treated so obligingly. If they were, Tottenham Hotspur and Harry Redknapp could have asked for his court case to be put off to this summer, too.

Instead we have an alleged public order offence from autumn 2011 going to court in summer 2012 because the judge was told it would be difficult for Terry and anybody else who might be needed from Chelsea to take time off during the season. Terry's commitments with the England team were also taken into account. It is bizarre. Even if Chelsea reach the Champions League final there are two weeks in March, two in April and three in May when there are no Tuesday-to-Friday fixtures.

"The FA board expected the trial to be concluded prior to the European Championship," the statement from FA headquarters read. So did Capello, the Ferdinands and everyone at QPR. As Mark Hughes says: "I think everybody believes it has been dragging on forever. From my point of view, and certainly Anton's, [we] would have preferred it to be done and dusted by now. I think everybody would."

There is nothing anyone can do about that now and Capello, overruled and undermined, is back to picking a new captain and wondering why it is that English football has this habit of taking a 12-bore to its own foot. One day, he will write a book about all this madness. Terry – 72 caps, six goals, two captaincies and more controversy than he will wish to remember – will feature in every chapter.

Curse of the captaincy: how armband was passed around

2 July 2006 After 58 caps as captain David Beckham resigns after England lose on penalties to Portugal in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Speculation about who will succeed him begins, with John Terry, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard the leading candidates

10 August 2006 Steve McClaren, announces his desire to take England in a "different direction" by dropping Beckham and naming Terry as captain with Gerrard as vice-captain. "I'm convinced he will prove to be one of the best captains England has ever had," McClaren says

22 November 2007 A failure to qualify for Euro 2008 costs McClaren his job and casts doubts over Terry's leadership. Speculation is rife that Ferdinand will replace him

5 February 2008 Fabio Capello names Gerrard as captain for his first match, a 2-1 friendly victory over Switzerland, but the Italian says Ferdinand and Terry will also get a chance to prove their captaincy credentials

19 August 2008 Ferdinand and Gerrard lose out, with Terry entrusted with the role for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. "I'd heard the whispers that Rio had got the armband so I was a little bit shocked but I've got to make the most of it. I'd never given up on the armband and never will do," Terry says

5 February 2010 Despite World Cup qualification, Capello hands Ferdinand the armband after allegations about Terry's off‑field behaviour cause Wayne Bridge to retire from England duty. "After much thought I have made the decision that it will be best for me to take the captaincy away from John Terry," Capello says

4 June 2010 Ferdinand injures knee ligaments in the first training session in South Africa and is replaced by Gerrard. After a poor start to the World Cup Capello is forced to quash a Terry-led player revolt against his authoritarian methods. England are thrashed 4-1 by Germany in the second round and Gerrard's leadership qualities are questioned

20 March 2011 With Ferdinand and Gerrard struggling for fitness and form, Terry is named captain for a third time. The decision irks the Manchester United defender; Capello admits Ferdinand "preferred not to meet me" about the decision. "I decided John Terry would be the captain for this game [against Wales] because, after the game in Copenhagen, the way the armband was moved around was upsetting for him"

3 February 2012 Terry is stripped of the captaincy again

www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/feb/03/john-terry-euro-2012-captaincy-fa

[Macmoish]

Says it so well. No one saying Terry is guilty. (Ok some are!) But seems so evident that once the charge is made, have to take certain steps. He gets his day in court

BBC

John Terry: Lord Triesman says FA right to take away captaincy

Former Football Association chairman Lord Triesman believes the FA had little choice but to strip John Terry of the England captaincy.
Chelsea skipper Terry is awaiting trial after denying a charge of racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand.

"I think the decision was inevitable and I'm very pleased and a bit relieved [FA chairman] David Bernstein has taken that decision," Triesman said.

"The only anxiety I have is it's taken rather too long to get to this point."
The criminal charge against Chelsea skipper Terry was announced on 21 December.

He was stripped of the captaincy on 3 February, 48 hours after it was revealed his trial would be held on 9 July, eight days after the Euro 2012 final.

“
It's a tough job and not easy to think who would be ideal. I admired Rio Ferdinand in the role
”
Lord Triesman on England captaincy

"The truth is a serious allegation [that is] not proved yet. In most organisations it would mean you simply could not go on as you were for this length of time," Triesman told Sportsweek on BBC Radio 5 live.
"I sometimes think football is in a bit of a bubble and the things that happen in the rest of the world don't apply to football. Well, I'm afraid they do.
"If someone is charged with what is a significant criminal offence, I think that is probably the moment that almost every organisation would act.

"I suspect most people when faced with this kind of difficulty do conclude they should stand down and clear their name. That is a significant preoccupation."

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas had suggested Terry, 31, should have kept the captaincy , but Triesman argued there were wider issues.
He added: "One thing that is clear about John Terry is he's a fine footballer and he's obviously, in most senses, able to get on with his job.

"But in a more general sense, most people would say clearing my name is the most important obligation.

"Although there has not been a hearing and not been a verdict, the FA itself has to look after the interests of football more widely.
"We've got to the point where there is not just potential disruption in the dressing room, but a significant charge that is going to be heard in court.
"Fabio [Capello, England manager] knows the dressing room and knows if it will be creating tension. The distinguishing thing about John Terry's position is that he's England captain.
"With that honour comes a very large responsibility and so, in these circumstances, the one thing the FA couldn't have continued with was John Terry as captain."
Manchester United's former England skipper Rio Ferdinand has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant position but Triesman said the defender's type of leadership was needed.
PHIL MCNULTY'S BLOG

Phil McNulty
Chief Football Writer, BBC Sport
With Terry stripped of the captaincy for a second time, the prospect of him ever regaining it will surely be gone forever

Read Phil's blog here
"It's a tough job and not easy to think who would be ideal," Triesman said.
"There are certainly players I have admired in the role. I admired Rio Ferdinand in the role.
"Rio is a very, very tough competitor and gets very worked up during games. What I noticed, with the mantle of responsibility of captaincy, he would calm other players down, he would get them away from the referee, he himself would be very careful about how the referee was handled. I thought he showed outstanding leadership.
"There are very likely other players who can do that as well. I'm trying to single out the qualities I observed.
"They have got to be a very fine player, a leader on the field, a leader in the dressing room, and probably make sure the rest of their life doesn't get in the way of those leadership functions."

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16890141

[Macmoish]

Bobby Charlton saying something. Not quite sure I understand what he's saying!

SKY

Charlton wants Terry solution
World Cup winner does not want trial to become a distraction

Sir Bobby Charlton has called on John Terry to ensure England's European Championship campaign does become derailed by him losing the captaincy for a second time.

World Cup-winning Manchester United legend Charlton backed the Football Association's decision to strip Terry of the armband while the defender awaits trial over allegations he racially abused QPR's Anton Ferdinand, something he denies.

The FA acted after Chelsea and Terry's legal representatives succeeded in delaying the case until after Euro 2012.

Charlton, who helped inspire England to World Cup glory in 1966 and remains his country's record goalscorer, urged Terry to act now to try to resolve any issues that have arisen since the allegations against him first emerged.
Solution

"We sometimes laugh at the Football Association but the Football Association govern the rules of the game," explained Charlton, speaking in his role as a Laureus World Sports Awards academy member.

"At the end of the day, if John Terry has been found to have potentially made some mistakes and has been pilloried all through the media then they have to act.

"The one person who can solve this is John Terry himself. I think that we need to solve it before the championships come, if we can."

Reminded that Terry's trial would not take place until July 9, Charlton said: "That's legally. Physically, amongst themselves, if you have a problem in your team and you are a member of the team then you have an opportunity maybe to influence by speaking to the lad himself personally.

"The only thing I'm feeling is that I hope whatever decision they make doesn't jeopardise the chance we might have of actually winning something for a change."


www1.skysports.com/football/news/12016/7490068/Charlton-wants-Terry-solution

[Macmoish]

Capello disagrees with the Axing as Captain (Macmoish disagreed with keeping of Capello as England Manager)

Reuters - Capello disagrees with Terry losing England captaincy


(Reuters) - England manager Fabio Capello disagrees with the Football Association's decision to strip John Terry of the national team captaincy, the Italian said on Sunday.

The FA took the step after the Chelsea defender was sent to trial in July charged with racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League game in October.

"I do not agree with the decision to take the armband off Terry. He can't be punished until he is judged by the relevant authorities (the court)," Italian Capello told a Rai broadcast in his home country.

The FA had made it clear that the decision to strip Terry of the captaincy ahead of Euro 2012 in June had been made by chairman David Bernstein and the board, not Capello.

Any public disagreement between Capello and the FA would be highly embarrassing for England. The FA has not commented.

In making the decision last week, the English governing body said: "The board has discussed the matter in detail and has collectively decided it is in the interests of all parties that John has the responsibilities of captaincy removed at this time.

"This decision has been taken due to the higher profile nature of the England captaincy, on and off the pitch, and the additional demands and requirements expected of the captain leading into and during a tournament."

Terry previously had the armband taken away from him by Capello after allegations about his private life but he was restored to the captaincy a year later.

No replacement skipper has been named. Rio Ferdinand, Anton's brother who stepped in last time and is Terry's long-term England central defensive partner, has said he does not want to be captain again.

Capello, who steps down after Euro 2012, has always said the England job would be his last before retirement but told Rai that there had been contact with Inter Milan in recent years but none from previous club AS Roma.

(Reporting by Mark Meadows, editing by Ed Osmond)

uk.reuters.com/article/2012/02/05/uk-soccer-england-terry-idUKTRE8140RC20120205?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=sportsNews&rpc=401

[Macmoish]

GUARDIAN/Dominic Fifield

Fabio Capello risks undermining England's preparations for Euro 2012
The Italian's public disapproval of the FA's decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy could make or break the end of his tenure

The tensions at the very top of the English game have been laid bare. Fabio Capello is due back at his desk on Monday, though any hopes the Italian may have had in keeping his visit brief before heading for Merseyside to scrutinise Steven Gerrard's form and fitness may have been dashed by the few succinct words he afforded Rai 1 on Sunday night. David Bernstein, the Football Association's chairman, will be seeking a meeting.

By publicly voicing his disapproval at his employers' decision to remove John Terry from the captaincy, a move taken out of his hands, Capello has risked critically undermining England's preparations for the summer's European Championships in a manner potentially far more serious than his ill-advised commercial online venture the "Capello Index" ever did back in 2010.

The Italian was known to be frustrated at seeing his favoured leader deposed while Terry awaits trial for a racially aggravated public order offence allegedly made in an altercation with the Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand last October. Terry has strenuously denied wrongdoing.

The matter will not go to court until 9 July and it was most likely the 65-year-old's exasperation, rather than any great desire to pick a fight, that prompted his comments. He merely responded honestly. Did he agree with the FA's decision on Terry? "No, absolutely not. I thought it was right that Terry should keep the captain's armband."

Yet by pledging his support for Terry he has ensured any aspiration the FA had of bundling the controversy out of the spotlight until after the finals has been lost. A captain will be appointed for the friendlies against Holland, Norway and Belgium, and for Euro 2012 beyond.

It may even be Gerrard, who had stood in for the injured Rio Ferdinand at the 2010 World Cup and would seem the natural choice if fit. But how could a senior figure such as the Liverpool midfielder now take the armband knowing full well that Terry, who remains available for selection, is actually the manager's first choice? He would be undermined from the outset.

For Ferdinand, booed incessantly and mystifyingly by sections of the Chelsea support at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, the scenario is even more stark – so much so that, even if he excels for Manchester United from now until May, the prospect of competing at the finals in Ukraine and Poland must increasingly feel like a pipe-dream. The centre-half had already been compelled to admit publicly that he would not consider accepting the armband for a second time himself, Capello having stripped him so clumsily of the honour last season.

Now he knows that the national coach would have had Terry retain the brief even while awaiting trial for allegedly racially abusing his younger brother. If the Chelsea player is picked for future squads while the legal issue remains unresolved, Ferdinand would surely be forgiven for feeling he cannot make himself available. In some ways the decision to sack the accused but permit his selection as merely a player feels even more exposed as a fudge and England may suffer all the more as a result.

Terry, of course, remains innocent until proved guilty and he, himself, had been left livid by the FA board's stance. That, itself, might have provoked Capello to offer encouragement to the 31-year-old that he remains a key part of his plans for the tournament – England perhaps are not blessed as they once were with depth at centre-half – having been concerned that he would walk away from the international stage. The player's camp have officially yet to make a decision over Terry's future with the national team in the wake of last Friday's disappointment, confirmed as it was in a telephone call from Bernstein, even if it seems unlikely that he would ever decide to quit.

The only certainty now is that England will head into a summer tournament with the manager and chairman at loggerheads. Terry will be a foot soldier, as he was in South Africa, but whoever leads the team into battle will not retain the manager's complete faith. Two years ago Capello had removed the Chelsea defender from the captaincy having lost patience with a series of off-field controversies – culminating in the player's alleged affair with Wayne Bridge's ex-partner – which he felt were disrupting the dressing room. Now he appears to be using Terry's captaincy as an issue which could make or break the final few months of his tenure.

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/06/fabio-capello-england-euro-2012

[Macmoish]

BBC

Fabio Capello may have breached his contract with the FA

England coach Fabio Capello may have breached his contract by publicly criticising the Football Association's move to remove John Terry as captain.

Terry, 31, was stripped of the armband pending his trial in July over alleged racial abuse of QPR's Anton Ferdinand.

On Sunday Capello said to Italy's state broadcaster RAI he "absolutely" did not agree with the decision.
Use accessible player and disable flyout menus

Fabio Capello appeared on Italy's RAI One to criticise the decision

Former FA executive director David Davies told the BBC "this matter with Capello is regarded very seriously."

At the weekend Capello indicated that he did not believe someone should be punished by sporting authorities before a court had reached a verdict.

"I thought it was right that Terry should keep the captain's armband," said the 65-year-old Italian.

"I have spoken to the [FA] chairman and I have said that in my opinion one cannot be punished until it is official and the court - a non-sport court, a civil court - had made a decision to decide if John Terry has done what he is accused of."

David Davies, former executive director of the FA, told the BBC that the former Real Madrid and AC Milan manager's outspoken actions have frustrated his employer.

"My understanding - and I've talked to one or two very senior people at the FA in the last 24 hours - is that this matter with Capello is regarded very seriously," Davies told BBC Radio 5 live. "He may well have breached his contract.

"There is collective responsibility and there is a view that publicly this sort of matter shouldn't be aired in this sort of way.
Image of Phil McNulty Phil McNulty Chief Football Writer, BBC Sport

It was widely accepted that England coach Fabio Capello was unhappy at the FA's decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy - but to go public with his concerns may be regarded by the hierarchy as unhelpful and likely to prolong the debate.

The FA will not, however, be going back on the decision so Capello must accept it and move on if England's preparations for Euro 2012 are to progress with any degree of calmness.

And of course, Capello's public loyalty and faith in his deposed captain may also be seen as undermining the credibility of his eventual successor.

"It will be for others to know the fine print of Capello's contract and I suspect people will look at it."

Davies also praised the swift and decisive decision-making by the FA hierarchy.

"There is strong leadership now at the FA from [chairman] David Bernstein," he said.

"Last week he wasn't slow to take things forward and he may not be slow to do so now."

Terry, who first lost the England captaincy in February 2010 following allegations about his private life, has entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.

Capello is free to select the Chelsea defender for the friendly against the Netherlands in February and the European Championship in the summer.

The FA declined to comment on Capello's remarks, but Davies said that the content would not be a surprise to his bosses.

"He clearly wants to support John Terry, a guy who Fabio appointed twice to this very special job," he said.

"He probably also wants to prevent John Terry walking away from international football altogether."

Capello, who became England coach in December 2007, is reportedly due at Wembley on Monday to speak to Bernstein.

The former Italy midfielder, who earns a £6m a year, is due to stand down when his contract runs out after Euro 2012.

Author Mark Ryan, who wrote a biography of Capello, told BBC Radio 5 live: "I think Capello is very angry.

"He is a proud man and he did not like having his authority undermined.
CAPELLO WITH ENGLAND

Dec 2007: Appointed England coach
Feb 2008: Wins first game in charge - 2-1 against Switzerland at Wembley
Sept 2009: Secures place at 2010 World Cup with 5-1 win over Croatia
May 2010: Puts his name to an online player rating system but the project is shelved shortly afterwards
June 2010: England crash out of World Cup after 4-1 defeat to Germany
Oct 2011: England qualify for Euro 2012 with 2-2 draw in Montenegro, although Wayne Rooney is sent off

"He has gone out there and said if you are going to undermine my authority I am going to undermine yours. He has not long to go on his contract and he wants to make it quite clear he wants to go his own way.

"I think he will be talking to the Football Association in the days to come to try to thrash out some way forward together. If that does not happen already some talk of him joining Franco Baldini at Roma and there is further talk of Inter Milan."

Meanwhile, Capello must decide who takes over from Terry as captain with Anton Ferdinand's brother, Rio, having said that he does not want the role .

Central defender Rio was briefly captain after Terry first lost the armband two years ago, but Capello turned back to the Chelsea captain in March 2011.

BBC Radio 5 live's chief football correspondent Mike Ingham told 5 live Breakfast: "The FA will be disappointed with Capello's public opposition.

"Capello's come out so strongly for John Terry, he'll feel now even more obligation to select him as a player. By doing that, does that effectively compromise Rio Ferdinand? It's a real hornet's nest.

"Whoever becomes the new captain now knows that he's not going to have the wholehearted approval of his manager."

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16905818

[haqpr1963]

Am I the only one who thinks that Fab is hoping to get the push and a big payoff before he once again gets the blame for a poor England performance at a major tournament?

[Macmoish]

Do have to wonder...Expect England won't do that well...So if quits now, his reputation remains (semi) intact

[haqpr1963]

Feb 6, 2012 10:56:46 GMT Macmoish said:

Do have to wonder...Expect England won't do that well...So if quits now, his reputation remains (semi) intact

Totally agree, does he really have any reputation though?